Tie on Tusten bookkeeper vote

A tie has been declared in the public vote on whether the Tusten supervisor should maintain the sole authority to appoint the bookkeeper, or that authority should shift to the full town board.

The vote had been 132 in favor of the change and 129 opposed to it. On July 19 town clerk Kathy Michell opened the three affidavit votes that were deemed to be legitimate and all voted no on the question.

A resident from among the 40 or so who had gathered to witness the opening of the votes asked, “what happens now?”
Jeffrey Clemente, the town attorney, said that a tie vote is the same as a no vote because in order for the law to pass it must be by majority vote.

So the town is in the same position it was in before, without a bookkeeper.

Supervisor Peg Harrison for now retains the authority to appoint the bookkeeper, but she does not have the authority to create the position, which must be done by the board.

It is not clear whether the board will now create the position and allow Harrison to appoint it, or if they will move to hold a new vote on the matter.